Teddy&#39;s potty gard

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a novel toilet bowl Teddy&#39;s Potty Guard which fits as a cover over the bowl of a standard or non-standard toilet bowl. A removable toilet potty guard comprising: (a) a less than ½ inch thick plastic sheet which is adapted to cover the exterior surfaces of the top of a toilet bowl and which is adapted to cover the external surface of the top of a toilet bowl and which has multiple holes in the plastic bowl cover and (b) attachment means for enabling the plastic bowl cover to lay securely and to releasably attach to the upper rim of the toilet bowl.

REFERENCES CITES

U.S. Patent Documents 6032302 March 2000 Eckert 4/300. 5930847 August1999 Hall 5067185 November 1991 Kohier 4348776 September 1982 Sarjeant

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a novel toilet bowl potty guard or decorativepotty guard which fits on top of the upper rim of a toilet bowl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem of rodent and reptile entering the home through the toiletbowl from the sewer line has been long standing problem. An ordinarytoilet bowl that comes from your standard sewer line can easily beinvaded by rodent or reptile that accidentally get caught in the sewerline and as a result, through incidental passage, enters the home. Someof the rodents or reptiles will enter the upstream waterway in the sewerand attempt to exit the sewer line by coming out the toilet bowl. Inorder to eliminate this problem or to avoid the possibility of sittingon the toilet and being bit by a water moccasin snakes, spiders or otherreptiles, a person will be able to see what's in their toilet beforethey use it. This is a major concern of many people.

Through research, it has been determined that rodents are persistentcreatures. Rats can jump three feet straight up, and four feet straightoutwards, from a standing position. They can burrow three feet straightdown into the ground; chew through building materials, glass, andcinderblock; swim ½ mile in the open water and against current in thesewer line; and climb up inside the pipes with diameters between 1-½ and4 inches. A rat's teeth are so strong it can bite through aluminum,lead, and other materials. With these facts in minds, a sewer line caneasily be invaded by rodents, or reptiles that enter the sewer line.

The following patents disclose devices relating to potty guards oftoilets, and other articles. U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date 6,032,302Eckert Mar. 7, 2000 5,930,847 Hall Aug. 3, 1999 5,067,185 Kohler Nov.26, 1991

Koher teaches a toilet bowl protector covering for enclosingconventional bathroom toilets. There is a flexible waterproof sheetwhich is adapted to cover the exterior surface of a toilet bowl andwhich has a hole in the central area thereof. The periphery around thehole being adapted to fit about the upper rim of a toilet bowl which iselastic to enhance the fitting. The floor covering covers the floor areaof the bathroom. It has attachment means that are a plurality of clips.It has attachment means for enabling the periphery around the hole to bereleaseably attached to the upper rim of the toilet bowl. The protectorincludes a drawstring which is adapted to secure the mid-region of thesheet about the waist of the toilet bowl.

Koher does not contemplate a reusable toilet bowl cover and, further,does not contemplate using the device to provide protection to personsin danger of reptiles entering the home through the sewer line.

The Eckert patent discloses a toilet guard system. Each side segmenthaving a lower edge and upwardly extending trapezoidal shaped componentincluding a plurality on each side in overlapping relationship to formtwo sets. A horizontal coupling member is positioned on the surface ofthe toilet bowl with a vertical element in contact with the interiorvertical face of a toilet bowl for proper positioning therebetween. Thecoupling interior vertical face of a toilet bowl for proper positioningtherebetween. The coupling member also spaced horizontal ledgespositional above and below the toilet for securement purposes. Thecoupling member and side segment are in generally circular orientationwith an opening at the forward region of the toilet for urination therebetween and opening at the rearward region for receipt of the uppercomponent. A plurality of hinges interconnect the coupling component andthe side segment components to allow the upward extension of theshielding components for operation and use and to allow the pivotingdownwardly thereof for storage purposes.

Eckert does not teach a toilet bowl protection. Its purpose is to ensureproper urination by young males into the toilet.

Hall teaches a toilet screen assembly situated over a large circularopening of a commode and having a closed orientation for precludinglarge articles from passing through the opening and open orientation forallowing large articles to pass there through. Also included is at leastone actuator assembly for maintaining the screen assembly in the closedorientation when a commode lid is opened and in the open orientationwhen the commode lid is closed.

Sajeant teaches a collapsible splash guard that is adapted to be mountedin a toilet, which is constructed for movement between an extendedoperative position when the toilet seat is in a raised position and acollapsed storage position when the seat is in the lowered position. Theinnermost of the nested segment is connected to the toilet seat in sucha manner that when the toilet seat is lifted to the raised position, theinnermost segment is lifted upwardly from within the bowl and the nestedsegments are moved with respect to one another from a nestedrelationship into an extended overlapping relationship positioned abovethe toilet bowl and forming an enclosure shieldingly surrounding theback and the side portion of the bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is directed to a potty guard which comprises athick clear plastic bowl cover which is releasably secured around therim of a conventional toilet bowl. A continuous bowl seal cap isutilized to secure the plastic sheet to the rim of the toilet bowl. Theplastic bowl cover acts as a cover over the top of the toilet bowlattached securely to prevent passage of a rodent or reptile. The edgesof the plastic bowl cover are plain or clear in color or decorative tosuite the decorative needs of the purchaser. The potty guard keepsrodents and reptiles out the home, or from under the rim of the toiletseat. The potty guard is easily detachable so one can use the toilet andeasily replace the security device. It is easily washable and easy tohandle.

A removable toilet bowl potty guard which comprises in combination aplastic bowl cover, which is adapted to cover the top the toilet bowlrim. The potty guard has holes in the top of the cover to allow passageof air to the sewer line. Attachment means are used to enable theplastic bowl cover on top of the bowl to be releasably attached to theupper rim of the toilet bowl. The potty guard has a handle attached toupper surface of the plastic cover, as to allow for removal before usingthe toilet.

A potty guard as described wherein the sheet has a decorative borderaround the exterior circumference of the plastic bowl cover, thedecorative border being adapted to find the naked eye of the protectivefeature. In the potty guard, the periphery around the hole of the sheetcan be elasticized to enhance the fitting of the periphery to the upperrim of the toilet bowl. The upper rim attachment means is a continuousbowl seal cap, or hook.

A potty guard as described wherein the potty guard includes a handlewhich is adapted to secure the mid-region of the plastic bowl holdingthe unit together for easy removal.

The potty guard can be made of washable plastic material, ¼″-½″disposable biodegradable plastic or hand flexible washable plastic, suchas polyethylene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention, butwhich should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope of theinvention in any way:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the potty guard spread out flat;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the potty guard spread out flat; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a isometric view of continuous plastic bowl seal capused to fasten the potty guard to the toilet bowl rim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is an easily used washable, reusable, retainableor disposable accessory for toilet bowls. The invention comprises a ¼-½″thick clear plastic sheet which is releasably secured around the rim ofa toilet bowl and the inside rim of the toilet seat. The invention actsas a protector so that unwanted rodent and reptile can not enter thehome by way of the sewer line. The entire cover is easily detachable andis washable for reuse. The invention is intended to provide additionhome protection and other public facilities, as well as a decorativetouch in the home.

Referring to FIG. 1, which illustrates a top view of the toilet bowl'spotty guard 7, it can be seen that the potty guard 1 is constructed of athick hard plastic bowl cover 2 which can be fitted over the rim of aconventional toilet. The potty guard 7 fits underneath the toilet seat.By fitting under the toilet seat, the potty guard 7 does not prevent thetoilet seat from being lifted upwardly about the hinge. The potty guardplastic bowl cover 1 has ⅛″ type hole openings 4 therein and a three(3)inch handle 3 in the center of the plastic bowl cover 1, which can besecured to the potty guard plastic bowl cover I of the toilet bowl. Thepotty guard has a decorative border 2 that lay adjacently to the outerwall of the toilet bowl. The decorative border 2 can be creped orpleated so as to be changeable and be able to fit various diameters oftoilet bowl rims.

The potty guard plastic bowl cover 1 fits on top of the circumference ofthe exterior rim of the toilet bowl and can be snugly secured in placeabout the interior walls of the rim of bowl by a flexible bowl seal cap11. The top region 7, of the potty guard lays on the toilet stool rimarea of the toilet bowl.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the potty guard 1, spread out toshow its construction. The potty guard 1, which can be constructed of ahard, thick plastic, such as polyethylene, washable or disposable, andbiodegradable, has a generally circular shape. A oval handle opening 3is formed in the center. A continuous plastic bowl seal 10 is located onthe bottom areas of the potty guard 1. When the potty guard 7 isinstalled on the toilet, the toilet seat can rest on top of the [pottyguard or remain lifted up. FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of thebottom of the cover, which shows a continous bowl seal cap 12 which isused to fasten the potty guard rim to the toilet bowl rim and partiallyinside the toilet bowl. 12 can be formed of resilient plastic thatexerts a tight fit which fit snugly to inside edges of a toilet bowlrim.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of theforegoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible inthe practice of this invention without departing from the spirit orscope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to beconstrued in accordance with the substance defined by the followingclaims.

1. A removable Teddy's potty guard is to be used with a toilet bowlhaving an upper rim, a waist portion and a base portion, said pottyguard comprising: (a) a hard clear plastic bowl cover which is adaptedto cover the exterior upper rim surfaces of a toilet bowl and whichplastic bowl cover has multiple holes in the central area thereof, aportion of the plastic bowl cover around the hole being adapted to fiton top of the upper rim of the toilet bowl; (b) attachment means forenabling the plastic cover with holes in top to be releasably attachedto the upper inside wall of the toilet bowl; (c) a decorative trimaround at least a portion of the exterior circumference of the sheet,the trim being adapted to the plastic surrounding the top of the toiletbowl; (d) wherein with said plastic bowl cover attached to the rim, saidtrim will extend completely around the edge of the plastic bowl coverthat sits on the upper rim of the toilet bowl.
 2. A potty guard asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the plastic sheet is ¼″-½″ thick in size,enough to enhance the fitting of the plastic cover to the upper rim ofthe toilet bowl.
 3. A potty guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein theupper rim attachment means is a continuous bowl seal cap which is ⅛ inchthick by immerging ¾-1″ inch deep.
 4. A potty guard as claimed in claim1, 2 or 3 wherein a potty guard includes a handle which is adapted thecenter mid-region of the plastic bowl cover on the top side.
 5. A pottyguard as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the ⅛ type holes arescattered throughout the plastic bowl cover.
 6. A potty guard as claimedin claim 1 wherein the potty guard has a handle in one side, and areleasable fastening means on the bottom side adjoining areas of theplastic bowl cover called the bowl seal cap and releasable fasteningmeans being adapted to fit around the inside edge area of a toilet bowl.7. A potty guard as claimed in claim 6 wherein the potty guard hasfastening means on the back side area adapted to enable the potty guardto be releasably secured around the rear of the toilet bowl.